eHealth and mHealth in Chronic Diseases—Identification of Barriers, Existing Solutions, and Promoters Based on a Survey of EU Stakeholders Involved in Regions4PerMed (H2020)

Abstract

Background: In recent years, rapid population ageing has become a worldwide phenomenon. Both electronic health services (eHealth) and mobile health services (mHealth) are becoming important components of healthcare delivery. The market for mHealth is growing extremely fast. However, despite the increasing investment and interest in eHealth, several challenges still need to be overcome to enable broader and more systematic implementation of ICT in healthcare. Methods: This study presents data from the survey “Barriers and facilitators of Personalised Medicine implementation- qualitative study under Regions4PerMed (H2020) project”. In addition, this paper discusses the results of the conference, Health Technology in Connected & Integrated Care, held under the Horizon 2020 project and interregional coordination for a fast and deep uptake of personalised health (Regions4Permed) (July 2020—online conference). The above sections were preceded by an analysis of existing articles. Results: The data obtained from the surveys show that the main barriers to the adoption of eHealth and mHealth are the lack of skills of seniors, but also the lack of user-friendly technology and a simple user interface. Access to individual data while ensuring its security and the lack of digitisation of medical data are also serious issues. In addition, medical digital solutions are overly fragmented due to national legislations that deviate from the General Data Protection Regulation. Conclusions: By using technological solutions, it is possible to improve diagnosis and treatment decisions, and better adapt treatment and reduce its duration and cost. However, there are still barriers to the development of eHealth. Clear recommendations for implementation are needed to enable further development of personalised eHealth and mHealth solutions

Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Personalised Medicine across Europe

“…European healthcare systems have inconsistent legislation and, unfortunately, working with government agencies means bureaucracy and lengthy legislative procedures [ 7 ]. PM policies and programmes also vary significantly [ 10 ].…”

“…It is crucial to adapt the way patients and medical professionals communicate and work together to promote health. This is the only way to meet future expectations for high-quality, patient-centred care [ 7 ].…”

“…The implementation of PM in clinical practice requires smart planning and a structured approach to ensure quality and long-term sustainability [ 7 ]. The integration of PM into mainstream healthcare will only be successful, as noted by Holde at al.…”

Preparing caregivers for dehospitalization of technology-dependent patients: perspective of Home Care professionals

“…As condições crônicas, em qualquer etapa da vida, acarretam aumento na demanda por cuidados continuados, desencadeando significativas mudanças na dinâmica familiar e no processo de assistência à saúde, além de impactar nas políticas públicas e na organização do processo de trabalho no setor saúde (1) . Isso porque se torna essencial a implementação de um cuidado continuado para além do contexto hospitalar, o que inclui a valorização de particularidades relacionadas ao contexto familiar e domiciliar (1)(2) .…”

Diffusion of a Lifelog-Based Digital Healthcare Platform for Future Precision Medicine: Data Provision and Verification Study

“…With the aging population, the number of people suffering from chronic diseases is increasing and expenditure has increased to manage them [ 13 ]. Although expectations for high-quality medical services are rising, the burden of personal medical expenses continues to expand owing to population decline and low economic growth.…”